Friday, September 23, 2011

Puffy Paint

I can't believe I've never tried this project before. It was so easy and fun that I ended up doing it three times this week... first with my own kids, then as a project at my son's school, and then with our music class. I have a little bit of PTSD after working with lots and lots of squirrelly little 4 and 5 year olds. In particular my own kids, who tend to just dump out all the paint, smear it all over their bodies, and then run away screaming. They can engage with art projects sometimes, but it's a delicate trick... figuring out what will draw them in. This project was perfect because the bottles are just so irresistible to squeeze that no one could deny their hypnotic powers. And the finished products all ended up looking really cool... not that that is necessarily necessary.... I especially liked how it looked on the black background.

When it dries it actually feels really hard and gritty, kind of like sandpaper letters... and it is sparkly because of the salt. But if you wanted more sparkle you could surely add some glitter! I don't know about sand... but it's worth a try!

Thanks for the recipe! I got it from Pinterest. Just made 14 of them in little squeeze bottles that you would find at Michaels or Hobby Lobby in the baking aisle. We have a birthday party to attend on Sunday and they said paint would be a good gift. I'm packaging them in a clear paint can with a paint smock and some textured items instead of brushed. I'll put a label with the recipe on the can and tie the can opener to the handle. I hope they love it.

I used to make this years ago with my preschoolers. I used the bottles that perm solution comes in (donated from a local beauty school-cleaned them really good). Thanks for the reminder of a really fun activity. I am going to share that with some of my staff.

This is awesome, so glad so many of you are finding me on Pinterest! Gabrielle, in my experience it lasted a surprisingly long time. I think you would definitely be good to make it a few days ahead, esp. if you kept it refrigerated.

I found this via Pinterest and made it this afternoon, my kids loved it and sat at the table for a good 45 minutes painting away, they are 18 months,4 and 8 .. the two older kids then asked if they could go play outside and so we sent them to play with the paint they loved painting pictures on all the snow! and it looks pretty cute too!!

This is a great idea, can't wait to try it out. While it's meant to be for kids, I like the idea of creating my own color choices for my own uses.Also, I have a fun thing I've been doing with puff paint which I posted on my blog www.creativetherapydesignstudio.wordpress.com and I added a link to your blog and recipe, since it's related. Hope you don't mind, but I thought that since I was posting a use for puff paint, your homemade recipe could be a good option for those wishing to try it.Thanks for sharing your great idea. TB

I mixed my ingredients (less than 1/2 cup of each for each bottle) in individual sandwich baggies. Then you just clip the corner with a scissors and easily squirt into the bottles. Clean up is a breeze! :)

I see that a lot of people have asked about whether this would work on t-shirts, but there is not an answer. Anyone have an answer? I would love to do this on tees, but I don't know it holds up in the washer.

Hey guys! It would definitely not work on t-shirts. It's water soluble so it would just wash away. Works great on paper, cardboard, rocks (fun way to decorate rocks)and lots of other things you might paint with tempera paint too. It will dry nice and hard but if you add water it will turn back to goo :)

I am wanting to decorate a bookshelf that can't be painted. My theme is polka dots and I've been trying to find contact paper. However, I'm thinking I could use this paint and create all the dots myself. Thoughts??

This would be perfect for my daughters birthday party this weekend. I am going to fill balloons with paint and have the kids pop them and make her an art piece! Great inexpensive way to do such! Thanks for sharing!

The only thing I would suggest is that if you are using this paint with other children or are giving it as a gift, make sure to disclose to parents that it contains wheat (flour). My daughter has Celiac Disease and for her and other kids allergic to wheat that would be important to note. Love the idea though.

Is there a way to seal it so it stays. I just did this with my daughter and she loved it. I took some white fabric and glued it to a picture frame and this is her first time painting so I want to keep it.

Did this today with my 4 year old. She absolutely loved it. Things we did differently were we used hands and feet instead of bottles, and we did it on the windows and pavers. It was a fun way to clean them!I was a little worried about the salt scratching the windows (after she started, woops!) but they were fine!

I found this via Pinerest, and my 2 1/2 yr old and I have been having a blast with our paint. I made mine with powdered tempura paint, and I love, love, LOVE the easy clean up. I have been covering the lid with saran wrap and sticking the bottles in the fridge. I have to add a little water now and then, but we've been using the same paint for over a week. THANKS for sharing!!

There is a recipe for "moon sand" I would look it up but I think like 8 cups flour and one cup baby oil put in a clear plastic tote as a platform for fun/ mostly clean place to play it helps teach boundaries

I cannot believe the people who cannot read directions and ingredients! flour, salt, water, food colors-what part of this is a mystery? No you cannot paint a shirt and expect to wash it, duh. Does your cake wash well in your washer.Condiment bottles-Walmart 97 cents each. Come on people use your common sense.I've got to go and bang my head for awhile.

I LOVE the vibrant colors that can be created in a trillion different ways! My question is with regards to staining of fingers and clothes when using food coloring. Has anyone had any big issues with this? I can't wait to try this for my preschool classroom.

hey folks: Flour - Salt - Water - all these things WASH out of cloth so this idea is NOT good for tees or any other kind of clothing!! With Christmas holidays around the corner (or in some areas already started) this sounds like a great way to keep the kids interested if they have to spend time indoors. Although I do like the idea the melpitt had about using it on the snow!! THANKS.

I tried it just now. Unfortunately it did not work. I did everything but for some reason it was clunky. I did it in a ziplock bag combined everything but not a good turn out. Sad because the kids was really looking forward to it. Ol well my mission continues.

Thanks for the great idea! We're studying snow in Kinder in Jan and this will make great "snow" for the kiddos to add to their drawings :)

For those who need containers, I got a pack of 6 at Sam's Club for just a couple of bucks. Guessing you could also get them at Smart & Final and Costco, too. They don't have caps to cover the opening, but a small piece of plastic wrap between the lid and bottle top will keep it from drying out.

Awesome,I gone try this :-). I knew the recipient with flower,salt and water to make your own clay,I know this already for 40 years and used it when the kids where little,but I like this idea as well,I do art and love structures so :-). Gone use it,thanks :-) hugs x

Curious as to how long the paint takes to dry. I was thinking about having this as an activity at my son's birthday party and want to make sure it will be dry before the kids leave with their "original" masterpieces. Thanks in advance!

i made some of this paint tonight for my kids and instead of using food coloring i used a koolaid packet not only did it work for the coloring but it gave the paint a differnt smell for each color the kids loved it

I've been looking for the recipe for ages and finally found you on pinterest, it is so good for writing with and transfer it to your cards etc. Makes lovely swirls, not just for the kids. Thankyou soooooooooo much for this,Suan xxx

Don't know if you have ever tried it with Self Raising Flour. Or adding baking soda. That really makes is puff up. We tried it on small cardboard sheets and then ( adult supervision) 15 seconds in the microwave. Amazing .Good fun counting down as well10.9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1 beep Watch out it is hot when it comes out. Let it cool and then be amazed.

Do you think I can use this to do splatter paint? My son did a project last year where he taped off a cross on a canvas board, splatter paint all over the board, let it dry then removed the tape. I wanted to do the same for the kids a church. I thought that this would be much cheaper than buying all the paints. Any thoughts?

ok saw someone wanted to know about sealant spray, i was wondering the same thing . would hate to go crazy painting and then it melted with spray if anyone has tried please let me know . thanks in advance! ;)

Since it's basically runny salt dough, if you want to use it on canvas and make it last, then baking the finished piece in the oven should seal it, I'd assume..?Trail run first with a small piece. Just to be safe.

I just made this like 15 minutes ago. It's fun. A bit runny, but whatever. I'll try the 15 seconds in the microwave. Give me a bit and I'll add my results. Thanks for the recipe love. Like others, I found you on Pintrest.

Update: So I did the microwave thing and it worked. 15 seconds wasn't enough, so I did it again for 10 seconds-it was good. To seal it, add a coat of Mod Podge (store bought or diy (1/2 Elmers glue 1/2 water)).

Puffy paint is used for lots of things; mainly arts and crafts. Pintrest has some stuff where you glue letters to boards to decorate the house. For kids, it's different because they may be used regular/flat paint.

This can not be stored at room temperature...I used this recipe to refill the finger paint containers we have used for a few years. I left it on the shelf a few weeks...today when I decided we could paint again, I took them off t.he shelf and each of the containers had popped open and they were growing mold and smelled awful

LOVE IT!!! I did this today with my 12, 7 and 2 year old.. they all had a blast.. My thought is that unless you plan on painting A LOT, I would cut the recipe in half or even a quarter-unless you plan on storing it.. it makes a lot of paint

ok first I would like to ask my question and hope someone answers. I was wondering why cant we just add the food coloring to a bottle of glue? Would it work?

Then I don't know if anyone has notice yet but the question that everyone is asking about is the food dye and will it dye your clothes and other items not if the "paint" or flour washes out. We all know flour washes out of clothes.

Last thing is Everyone is trying to say recycle your catsup, mustard, syurp, and mayo bottles. If you don't like that idea the "hair product bottles" you are looking for are called condiment bottles they are at walmart or the dollar tree for $1 people buy them for picnics and put catsup and mustard in them or bbq sauce for the grill in the summer. I really hope this helped you guys and hope I hear from someone about the glue soon :)

not enthused about this paint. i made it for my grandchildren and it is too gritty. think next round i am going to use just flour and water, (thin enough of course,)and food coloring and see how it comes out. thanks for the idea though.